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Title: Honey Hunt Vol 2

Author: Miki Aihara

Publisher:  Viz

ISBN: 9781421525471

May Contain Spoilers

Yura is holding fast to her resolve to become a bigger star than her mother – until a crafty reporter and her cunning manager let slip at a press conference that she is the daughter of two super-celebrity parents.  Feeling betrayed, Yura decides to give up on her ambitions until Q-Ta convinces her to keep chasing after her dreams.  Will she have the will-power to withstand the gossip and rivalries that await her?

Miki Aihara specializes in heroines who possess zero self-confidence.  We’re not talking about your normal gawky teenage girl self-esteem issues, we’re talking a lack of self-worth so strong these poor girls can barely speak, let alone reveal what they are thinking or feeling.  Their emotions are deemed unworthy, so they are miserable bundles of repressed feelings.  It is my biggest gripe about Honey Hunt, and Hot Gimmick before.  The heroines are always marginalized, and instead of feeling sorry for them, what I really want to do is give them a good shake and tell them go get over themselves.  Or see a doctor because they have medications to help in these situations.

Despite harboring a great deal of irritation for Yura, I still enjoyed all of the drama in the book.  She wants to get back at her parents so badly that she’s willing to go out and make herself suffer through one torturous audition after another, even though they usually end up in failure.   When she’s finally given the role of the Noodle Girl, there’s the brief hope that she will be able to find some happiness in her accomplishment.  Nope, that’s not going to happen, because there are other, jealous people hovering on the sideline, just waiting for an opportunity to bring her down and destroy her dreams.  Even if Yura’s personality grates on my nerves, all of the fabulous, over the top drama kept me turning the pages.

I like the romantic triangle that’s slowly forming in Honey Hunt.  Maybe because none of the guys are as mean as Ryoki?  He could be so cruel, and he was that way right off the bat.  The guys in Honey Hunt aren’t as nasty, unless they are just saving their true colors for later.  Even Haruka, who comes across as very gruff, is quickly being caught under Yura’s spell.  That doesn’t stop him from thinking that she’s stupid, but at least he doesn’t constantly tell her to her face what he’s thinking.  Not sure if that makes it better or not.  Anyhoo, Q-Ta gets a vote for being a kind and compassionate guy, which makes him perfect potential boyfriend material.  He’s cute and a rising pop star, too!  Hope he’s not a turkey in a swan’s clothing.

It’s early in the series, but I’m hoping for a better showing than Hot Gimmick could muster.  The ending made me so mad! My biggest hope is that Yura will gain some confidence and develop a better sense of herself, and not compromise in what she wants out of life.  

Grade:  B

Review copy provided by Viz